"The Bat-Man of Gotham" arc currently unfolding in the pages of Batman has seen the Caped Crusader transported to another Gotham in the Multiverse. This Gotham finds itself under the twisted rule of Red Mask --a version of the Joker yet to undergo his fateful transformation -- and is on the verge of falling into chaos. Lacking resources and in unfamiliar territory, Batman sets out to find a way home while saving the city. Readers have seen the hero battle through a labyrinthian underground version of Arkham while confronting alternate incarnations of allies and adversaries. The twists, turns, and adventures have been leading to a massive finale in the milestone issue Batman #135/#900.
Writer Chip Zdarsky is joined by a team of talented artists, including the return of series regular Jorge Jiménez for Batman #135. The oversized issue promises to deliver an epic showdown with Red Mask while introducing wild revelations and paving a new path for Batman. CBR spoke with Zdarsky ahead of Batman #135 about everything he's put Batman through and what fans can expect from "The Bat-Man of Gotham" finale. Zdarsky and DC also shared an exclusive look at some unlettered preview pages from the upcoming issue.
CBR: Alfred and Leslie have played a large emotional role in this arc. Can you talk a bit about how you incorporated them?
Chip Zdarsky: Yeah! I'm a big Alfred fan, so I knew he'd be a part of this multiverse adventure since some monster killed him in the main universe. Having him feel a little aimless without Bruce's mission was the plan, and I liked the idea of him and Leslie finding solace with each other in the wake of their Bruce's death.
Robert Kirkman once expressed some regret about Rick losing his hand in The Walking Dead but ultimately thought it was the right decision. What can you say about Ghostbreaker cutting off Batman's hand and how that will impact the story moving forward?
Oh god, what have I done?
It'll definitely impact the story! It wasn't a casual decision, I'll tell you that much. My version of Batman is struggling a bit, and the hand loss is emblematic of that.
What was the inspiration for tackling a new idea on the Red Hood character, with Red Mask being a version of the Joker actively looking to become this Clown Prince of Crime everyone recognizes?
We've had some interesting takes on The Joker's origin before. Obviously, The Killing Joke delved into the idea of a relatively good, normal man pushed to the brink and beyond. But I also liked Scott Snyder's take in Zero Year, where Joker was already a brilliant bit of a monster before the chemical bath.
Darwin Halliday essentially becoming that world's "Bruce Wayne" made sense to me, and having him feel unsatisfied also seemed to work. The Joker is a pure, untethered thing, almost beyond human. Knowing that you can become a person [with] no limits is Darwin's driving force.
How did the finale for this arc landing on the milestone 900th issue impact what you wanted to do for the story?
Oh, it was perfect. I knew it going in, even before I started writing my first issue, so being able to build to it was really satisfying. It's so much story! Not having to artificially break it up into separate issues was a real gift. Also, getting to see Mike [Hawthorne] and Jorge [Jiménez] together in an issue was a treat. And Mikel Janin coming in to help out! That's some top-level assistance!
Right now, Issue #135/900 feels like the biggest thing I've been allowed to write in comics. Every page coming back from the artists just made me deliriously happy.
What else can you tease about the upcoming showdown between Batman and Red Mask?
We'll see exactly why Red Mask is dangerous. There are twists and turns, and one of my favorite last pages ever. Batman! It's a fun comic to write! Who knew??
Batman #135 goes on sale May 2nd.